Electric railway wire support



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

- 0. A. LIEB.

ELEGTRIO RAILWAY WIRE SUPPORT N0. 450,64. Patented Apr. 14,1891.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

C. A. LIEB. ELECTRIC RAILWAY WIRE SUPPORT.

No. 450,164. Patented Apr. 14,1891.

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UNITED STATES PAT NT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. LIEB, OF NEYV YORK, N. Y.

ELECTR|C-RAlLWAY-WIRE SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 450,164, dated April 14,1891.

Application filed December 10, 1890. Serial No. 374,168. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. LIEB, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Railways, of which the following is a specification. 7

My invention relates to improvements in electric systems of electric railways; and it consists in equalizing devices whereby the wires may be relieved of the intense strain to which they are subjected on long stretches of the lines by the contraction and expansion due to changes in temperature; and it also consists in means whereby the curves or corners are made of independent wires, so that they are relieved of the strain to which the straight portions of the lines are subjected; also, to improved means for holding the wire and for feeding the current to independent sections of the line.

Figure 1 illustrates a plan view of a length of overhead system, showing the invention as applied to the straight part of the system and also upon a curve. Fig. 2 illustrates an elevation of one of my equalizing-junctions. Fig. 3 illustrates across-section of that which is shown in Fig. 2 on the line at 00. Fig. 4 illustrates another form in which my invention may be made. Fig. 5 illustrates anend view of my improved clamps. Fig. 6 illustrates a side view of the clamps. Fig. 7 illustrates a vertical section of a modified construction of the clamps. Fig. 8 illustrates a longitudinal section of my equalizer insulated so that the line is divided into independent sections. Fig. 9 illustrates a modified method of applying the springs at the ends of the line.

A is the trolley vire.

B are the span-wires.

O are the posts.

D are the guys used at the ends of the straight or comparatively straight parts of the line. They are stayed at one end by strong posts D D. I show the starting end of the line as attached to a spring-post F. or to the side of a building.

F F are my equalizing devices. They consist of two metallic parts G and G (see Figs. 2 and 3,) each part having at or near the end a grooved under surface H, adapted to receive the wire A, and a hole I, up through which the end of the wire A may be passed and spread or riveted upon the upper surface of the metal. It may also be soldered at this point, if desired, or other means may be employed to fasten it. The two parts G and G are fitted together by dovetailed or like surfaces (see Fig. 3) in such manner that they may slide upon each other, and each part is likewise furnished with a shoulder or ledge K K, against which opposite ends of a stiff spring L abut, and through which, and also through the spring, abolt M passes which prevents buckling of the spring and confines the same between the shoulders K K. By this construction it will be seen that if the spring breaks nevertheless the equalizer cannot come apart, thus preventing the wire from falling. The under side of the outermost sliding piece G is shaped and rounded or narrowed, as necessary, so that it will engage properly with the groove in the trolley and move smoothly and without shock over it, as seen at G Fig. 3.

The operation of the apparatus as thus far described is obvious. The contraction of the trolley-wire pulling on the sliding partstends to draw them apart; but the resistance of the spring L allows this movement only sufficient to relieve the overstrain on the wire, thus preventing fracture, but maintaining at all times, both when the wire expands as well as when it contracts, a substantially constant tension on the wires. Sometimes and at certain places in the line I employ a simple spring, as at N, placed in the trolley-wire, which serves for certain purposes to relieve the wire. It will be observed that my device also takes up the slack produced by the lifting of the wire by the trolley, thus avoiding rattling of the line and keeping it taut and noiseless at all times.

In Fig. 9 I show the trolley-wire as passing through the pole N, the spring N being a compression-spring on the outside of the pole. By this construction the line cannot drop even if the spring should break. I also employ the same device shown in Figs. 2 and 3 to make a connection between the wires on the curvessuch as turning street-corners and the like-and the wires of the straight parts of the line, thus practically making a line which has curves independent of the main line. This construction is shown in Fig. 1. In rear of the guy-wires which hold the ends of the straighter part of the line I extend the trolley-wires a short distance, as at O, and there insert one of my equalizers (shown in Figs. 2 and 3) between the ends of the curve-section of the trolley-wire (seen at P) and the projecting ends 0 of the main line.

Q is a large post or other sufficient support from which the curve-section of the trolley-wire is sustained by guys R R, &c., as well understood. It will be seen that the curve-section of the wire is entirely relieved of the strain of the main line and that it is held in the proper position and under proper tension by the stiffness of the springs L in the equalizers only and in curval inner direction by the guys R.

I do not limit myself to the employment of the equalizers as shown and described at the curves. Any other device may be employed which will have substantially the effect of the equalizersthat is, to relieve the independent curves of the strain on the main line and yet maintain them in proper position; nor is it necessary that these or other devices should be applied directly at the curves. They may be somewhat removed from the curve.

In Fig. 4 I show another form in which my invention may be made. a is a casting or other suitablymade frame. It preferably has arms I) and hooks c on their ends, whereby it may be suspended from the span-wire. d (l are small wheels or rollers pivoted at the ends of the frame, which are preferably grooved to receive and hold the trolley-wire. e is another wheel, preferably also grooved, which is set on journals f, which are adapted to slide vertically in a slot or slots g made in the frame, and h is a stiif spring placed under the journals of the roller 6. The wire enters below one of the rollers d, passes upwardly over roller 0, and thence downwardly under the 'other roller-cl. hen the strain comes upon the trolley-wire, its tendency to straighten exerts pressure upon the spring h, and it will allow depression of the roller 6 to a sufficient degree to relieve the wire, and will at once return the wire to its normal position, and will maintain normal strain when the wire again expands. It will be observed that this form of my invention serves also very well as a supporter for the wire without cut ting it, and it may be insulated in any of the known ways, and may be used in 0011- nection with a bell-insulator, if desired, and an umbrella of any desired form may be used in connection with it. I also show an umbrella at 11 i in Figs. 2 and 3. This is very desirable to prevent ice, snow, and other obstructive agents from getting into the slideways of the pieces G G. On top of the umbrella or at some other suitable place I form a yoke through which the span-wire or one of the span-wires passes, thus preventing the equalizer from turning over. As the equalizer elongates, the span-wire passes freely through the yoke, thus relieving all parts from strain.

It will be observed that provision should be made to allow the trolley-wire to have free longitudinal movement. This I accomplish by myimproved clamps. (Shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7'.) j is the nut or screw, which engages with a bell or other suitable fixture or support for the wire. 76 7c are the two jaws of my clamps. They are provided with a holel at their upper ends, through which passes a bolt or pin m, and the two jaws intersect at at, similar to certain forms of tongs now Well known, and they have substantially semicircular holding-faces o 0 on their ends. The adjustment is such that when the two meeting faces of the upper parts of the jaws are in contact thesemicircular surfaces will be so far closed that the wire cannot escape therefrom, and yet is not so tightly gripped but that under the strain of the contraction in one direction of one of the springs of the equalizers in the other it will slide through the clamps.

In Fig. 7 I show an improved meansfor attaching the clamp to the bell or its equivalent. p is the screw which engages with the bell, &c., and below the screw there is a downwardly-extending lug g, which has on one side a rigid pin 0". s is a movable washer having a hole 15 in it larger than the spindle of the screw and a right-angled part it, which has a hole in it 0 adapted to fit over the end of the pin 4'. The ends of the clamps 7c are placed over the pin 0', and then the washer s is manipulated so that the hole 0 in it is passed over the end of the pin 1", and when thus in position the screw 19 is run up into the bell or like device until the washers binds against the same. Thus all parts are firmly held in place.

In Fig. 8 I show the equalizer as made to divide the line into independent sections, so that should injury occur to a part of the line the adjoining section will nevertheless be in condition for operation. Ct is one end of the trolley-wire. It is attached to a conical-ended tube 1), lined with insulating material 0. d is the other end of the wire. It passes through the conical end 6 of the tube, which is made of the wire 61' within the tube has a head or washerfon its end, and a spring g encircles the wire within the tube, which abuts at one end against the head f and at the other against the base of the cone 6'. h h are clips soldered to the two wires, with which connect feed wires j. 76 is a bell or its equivalent for attaching the entire device to a span-wire or like support. The operation is obvious. The expansion or contraction of the wire is the same as set forth in connection with the other figures; but since one end of the trolleywire is insulated from the other each section TKO ,of or filled with insulating material. The end i section comprising, essentially, a length of is electrically independent of the-other, being I fed by its own feed-wire. Thus each section is ready for use independent of the other.

I do not limit myself to the details of construction shown and described nor to the forms generally of the device given, because a large number of devices may be readily conceived which will answer the purpose and perform the functions.

I clain1 1. In an electric system, a strain-equalizer comprising, essentially, parts which move upon each other, and a spring placedbetweon them, and means whereby the ends of the Wire may be attached to them, respectively, substantially as set forth.

2. In an electric system, a corner or curve wire separate from the main trolley-wire, but connected thereto by an automatically-adj ustable connection, substantiallyas set forth.

3. In an electric system, a corner or curve section comprising, essentially, a length of wire separated from the main trolley-wire, but connected therewith by a spring-controlled automatic strain -equalizer, substantially as set forth.

4. A strain-equalizer for suspended electric wires, comprising, essentially, parts which slide upon each other, a spring interposed between them, and means whereby the ends of the wire may be attached to the sliding parts, respectively, substantially as set forth.

5. In an electric system, a corner or curve section embodying an automatic adjustable tension-equalizer between the curve and the straight parts of the line, substantially as set forth.

6. In an electric system, a spring placed in the trolley-wire and a clamp for the support of the Wire, constructed and arranged to hold the same, yet allow longitudinal movement thereof, substantially as set forth.

7. A clamp for an electric wire, having intersecting jaws and upwardly-extending parts adapted to abut against each other, thus limiting the grip of the holding-surfaces, substantially as set forth.

8. An equalizer for electric wires, comprising, essentially, parts which slide relative to each other and are insulated from each other, a spring, and feeding devices for the line, substantially as set forth.

9. A suspending device for trolley wire clamps, comprising a threaded part adapted for connection with a bell or like device, a pin for holding the clamp, and a movable part adapted to hold the clamp on the pin, substantially as set forth.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 28th day of November, A. D. 1800.

. CHAS. A. LIEB.

Witnesses:

PHILLIPS ABBOTT, FREDERICK SMITH. 

